Unlike our friend Norman here, if you are out traveling on Halloween, you’ll want to arrive alive. It is not only important to be aware of general road safety but of all the potential dangers lurking around the corner on All Hallows’ Eve. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published a list of scary statistics:
1 in 10 teens in high school drinks and drives
1 in 5 crashes in which someone was injured involved distracted driving
31% of U.S. drivers ages 18-64 reported that they had read or sent text messages or email messages while driving at least once within the 30 days before they were surveyed.
Every 2 hours a pedestrian dies from a motor vehicle crash
Many of us like to enjoy a bit of merriment on Halloween. Some of us just need that little bit of liquid courage to put on that costume for the Halloween party we were invited to. When you mix children running around amped up on sugar, with reduced visibility from masks, young drivers on the road, and the potential for drunk or distracted drivers- you’ve brewed a dangerous cocktail.
Keeping everyone safe on Halloween is a little bit of common sense, and planning. Let’s all slow down and remember these road safety rules this Halloween so everyone can arrive alive!
Wear your seatbealt
Heed posted speed limits and traffic signs/signals
Call a taxi if you have been drinking and can’t find a designated driver. There are other services to call as well, if you did not plan ahead, but want to get your car home. BeMyDD is one such service that will meet you and drive you and your car home (another driver will then pick up your driver). BeMyDD serves the Boston area as well as cities around the country. Uber is another pick up service that uses a mobile app to schedule pickups.
Put the phone down. No text is worth your life or someone else’s. Don’t trust yourself not to peek at the texts that come through while you’re driving? Set your phone to “do not disturb” or airplane mode when you get in the car.
Watch out for little goblins. 5pm-9pm are the busiest trick or treating hours, stay off the road if possible. If you do go out, use extra caution when driving through residential neighborhoods. Young trick or treaters may not be paying attention while crossing the street, or they may not have peripheral vision because of masks.
Light ‘em up. Send your kids out more lit up than a raver at an EDM festival. Give them flashlights and reflective clothing or trick or treat bags; and no costume is complete without plenty of glow sticks. Throw in a pair of light up shoes and you’re good to go!